Preview

Things fall apart essay

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1317 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Things fall apart essay
Things fall apart

In Things Fall Apart there are many cultural collisions created by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture. One example of a cultural collision caused by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture is when Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye converts to Christianity. This causes a cultural collision between Okonkwo and Nwoye because Nwoye wants to become a Christian, but Okonkwo doesn’t like the white men or Christianity. This cultural collision is caused by the white men bringing in western ideas to Ibo culture. This collision is very important to the book because it leads to the destruction of Okonkwo and fuels his anger. This collision shapes the meaning of the novel as a whole by symbolizing many things and relating back to many important quotes in the book that help develop the plot.
To begin, Nwoye converting to Christianity is a cultural collision caused by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture because Nwoye wanted to convert but he knew his father did not like the white men’s faith western ideas brought into Ibo culture were the white men’s faith called Christianity. People in the clan like Okonkwo did not like the whit men’s faith because it went against their faith and claimed that everything they believe in is false. “Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day, he keep it secret. He dared not to go too near the missionaries for fear of his father” (149). Okonkwo has been known for his bad temper and so Nwoye wanting to convert created a huge conflict between him and his father. Nwoye knew if his father knew about him being interested in the faith that his father would kill him. ”Answer me,” roared Okonkwo, “before I kill you!”(151). When Okonkwo found out about that Nwoye was among the Christians he almost killed him and then kicked him out of the house. Okonkwo’s response to Nwoye converting to Christianity was very harsh and he did not take it very easy. He felt like his son

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    As the white men moved into the Igbo's land, their culture, values and their beliefs changed. These changes were extremely evident, but in the end the Igbo were unable to doing anything to stop the changes that had already start taking place in their society. As soon as the whites arrived, they introduced a new religion that was completely different than the natives were accustomed to. The white man told the Igbos that, “they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stone,” (145) also, he mentioned that there was only one God, the creator of everything. Okonkwo was convinced that the man was entirely wrong, but his first son, Nwoye, had been captivated by all of these new ideas, and after a discussion with his father, “Nwoye decided to go to Umuofia where missionaries had a school to teach, to read and write the new Christians. (152)” “He was happy to leave his father to follow the missionaries. (152)” Indeed, Nwoye was not the only one convinced by the new form of religion, but also other natives, and some of them turned away from everything they were, just to be part of it. Before colonialism, the unit of the family was very important in the Igbo culture, but with the arrival of missionaries and their religion the division among families began. Sons, wives, and daughters separated voluntarily from their family to follow the new form of religion, even clans could no longer act as…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Historically Africa has been partly constructed by journals, books, etc. written by white hand. It is believed by many that one cannot truly talk about the land, unless they have lived the land. Two particular novels and oral epics that depict this perspective, the perspective of the colonized, are Things Fall Apart, written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, and Sundiata by author Djibril Tamsir Niane. At the end of Things Fall Apart, the District Commissioner, who was the British colonial administrator put in place to govern the Igbo society, is shown writing a book he plans to call the Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger. Although the District Commissioner’s book doesn’t directly apply to Sundiata because the future book will have been based of different parts of Africa, it is safe to say that the epic will represent a prejudice account of Africa. Both societies will be portrayed as unprivileged, savage, and uncivilized for inhabiting strict gender roles and laws.…

    • 1234 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nwoye Identity

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In summarize nwoye wanted to be a christian.Nwoye sense of identity was challenged with the introduction of Western ideas into the Ibo culture. Nwoye started out in in the novel as a son of the mighty okonkwo, but the culture collision of the British colonists and ibo people affected nwoye to the point of that he betrayed his…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first group of Igbo society which needs to be discussed are the ones who were very much opposed to the intrusion of Christian missionaries into their lives. The main people who were opposed to the missionaries were the leaders of Igbo society; these people being the priests, the elders, and the men of high title in each village. These different groups’ reasons were all valid and varied from one group to the next. The priests oppose the Christian missionaries for an obvious reason, because their religious beliefs are in stark contradiction to the beliefs espoused by the priests and believed by the Igbo people. The missionaries are attempting to convert the Igbo people to Christianity and therefore away from the animistic religion that these priests represent. On multiple occasions people who have been converted by these missionaries directly assault religious symbols of the Igbo, such as when Okoli kills the royal python or when Enoch rips the mask of off one the egwugwu. The elders’ reason for not welcoming the missionary is that if their sons were to convert to Christianity then there will be no one…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When introduced to a different culture, a community will have two vastly different responses. On one hand, members may feel uncomfortable, separate themselves, and grow stronger to their own set of beliefs. However, with the introduction of another perspective, others will feel enlightened and truly captivated by the unique ideas. This concept is apparent in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, where Nwoye, the oldest son of Okonkwo, a greatly respected leader within his village, is introduced to an entirely different set of beliefs via European missionaries. While Nwoye notably struggles to agree with and find a place in the culture he was born into, he finds comfort in Christianity. The Westerners’ set of beliefs challenges the principles of Nwoye’s Igbo culture and any remaining ties to his family,…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Igbo Religion

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the novel “Things Fall Apart,” written by Chinua Achebe, the Ibo cultural aspect of their religion is highly significant in their lifestyle, as in their community. It is seen in the way they communicate, or don't communicate, with one another. Religion is a strong holding point in their tribes. However, the perspective of religious tradition changes throughout the novel once colonialism, and Christianity, are introduced by the white missionaries. Differences in religious beliefs would be a reasoning for a tribe’s falling out, and religious discrimination throughout the novel.…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When he first started attending Christian gatherings, he made sure his dad never found out, because he would punish and disown him. Okonkwo was strongly against the new religion, because it contradicted his own and seemed foolish. After Nwoye was caught supporting the new culture, him and his father separated. Whenever someone would bring Okonkwo up, Nwoye would simply respond with “he is not my father,” (Achebe 137). He had finally gained courage to form his own ideas and opinions, instead of trying to please Okonkwo. He felt “happy to leave his father,” (Achebe 146). Nwoye was now free to be himself and officially join the Christian…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    How successful is Chinua Achebe in representing an image of Africa that "writes back" to the European coloniser?…

    • 2908 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Different conflicts happens in culture collision.The people in the Ibo tribe either try to convert into Christianity or try to resist it. The colonization and “the arrival of the missionaries had caused a considerable stir in the village of Mbanta” (Achebe 138) had began to convert different traditions into their tribe tribe . This traditional change has effect all the characters in different ways. Okonkwo ignoring the new religious and political differences because he feels that they are not right. He also feels that he will not be manly if he…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Benjamin Disraeli once stated, “Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe discusses the Ibu culture through the tragic hero, Okonkwo. Chinua Achebe uses the fact that change is inevitable and Okonkwo to convey that he will do anything in his power to have his culture stay the same.…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart Change

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “Change before you’re forced to change” (Goodell). The historical novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe revolves around Okonkwo and his struggles with adapting to the new cultural collision that is presented to his village with the arrival of the colonist. The novel starts off by explaining the daily life of Okonkwo and his village prior to his exile and eventually leads into his accidental murder of a clansman which results in his exile. As the novel progresses, colonists arrive in Okonkwo’s village and change the culture there to their own, much to the dissatisfaction of Okonkwo; however, he attempts to stop the colonists by killing one of them only to create more trouble for his clan and ends up taking his own life. Numerous characters in the Things Fall Apart experience a change in character as the novel progresses, specifically Nwoye. At the beginning of the novel, Nwoye is perceived as a disappointment to his father for lacking the masculine qualities of a man and these expectations eventually lead his character to change as the novel progresses. Towards the end, Nwoye converts to Christianity much to the displeasure of his father and leaves his village to study their culture. Through thorough examination of Nwoye’s development throughout the novel, Achebe develops the theme that one should live life the way he or she desires and not what…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Things Fall Apart Essay

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Community in tribal cultures is tight knit and deep-seated. The men must follow the laws and traditions that have come long before current generations. The rules come from nature and no one seems to know where or how they started the men just know the actions must be carried out precisely or the community would be punished. The tribal community has a responsibility to ensure that all are following the laws of the set forth or the entire village will be punished.…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Okonkwo Culture Analysis

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A sense of identity is developed by everyone as they mature, but it is always changing as culture changes. The novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, follows the development of several characters in response to a cultural shock caused by the Westernization of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria. The protagonist of the book, Okonkwo, was a strong leader who ruled with a heavy hand. Nwoye, Okonkwo’s first son, was very different however. Although he tried to shadow his father, Nwoye always had a soft side to him. His father's morals never meshed with Nwoye’s morals which caused a great number of conflicts, especially when it came to religion. As a result of the introduction of Western ideas in the Ibo culture, Nwoye’s…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    my life

    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The collision in the cultures starts off first when the missionaries come to the tribe. “At first the clan had assumed that it would not survive. But it had gone on living and getting stronger.” This showing that the church getting stronger foreshadows a bad event in the loss of culture and Okonkwo. Another example, “The white missionary, who was very firm in restraining his flock from provoking the wrath of the clan.” Shows how Mr. Brown was helping the church grow causing the culture of the tribe to lower down.…

    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The church had disassembled what remained of the Igbo tribes by forcing Christianity onto the people through constituting threats of violence. Since the Igbo tribes and the missionaries could not compromise with one another, innumerable members of the Igbo society were sent the execution, for not adhering to the missionaries set of laws. The missionaries had a convergence toward taking over the Igbo tribes and converting them to Christianity. Furthermore, the missionaries encouraged the Ibo people to branch out from their Igbo beliefs and become a part of something new. Some Umuofians hate began to grow so…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays